The Blotting Book Read Online Free Page A

refer in polite
society. Will that do?"
    "Ah, I can easily imagine how painful you must have found—" began
Taynton.
    But his partner interrupted.
    "It was rather painful; you have spoken a true word in jest. I felt a
brute, I tell you. But, as I pointed out to you, something of the sort
was necessary."
    Mr. Taynton suddenly dropped his slightly clerical manner.
    "You have done excellently, my dear friend," he said. "And as you pointed
out to me, it was indeed necessary to do something of the sort. I think
by now, your revelations have already begun to take effect. Yes, I think
I will take a little brandy and soda. Thank you very much."
    He got up with greater briskness than he had hitherto shown.
    "And you are none too soon," he said. "Morris, poor Morris, such a
handsome fellow, confided to me this evening that he was in love with
Miss Templeton. He is very much in earnest."
    "And why do you think my interview has met with some success?"
asked Mills.
    "Well, it is only a conjecture, but when Morris asked if he might call
any time to-morrow, Miss Templeton (who was also dining with Mrs.
Assheton) said that she and her mother would be out all day and not get
home till late. It does not strike me as being too fanciful to see in
that some little trace perhaps of your handiwork."
    "Yes, that looks like me," said Mills shortly.
    Mr. Taynton took a meditative sip at his brandy and soda.
    "My evening also has not been altogether wasted," he said. "I played what
for me was a bold stroke, for as you know, my dear fellow, I prefer to
leave to your nimble and penetrating mind things that want dash and
boldness. But to-night, yes, I was warmed with that wonderful port and
was bold."
    "What did you do?" asked Mills.
    "Well, I asked, I almost implored dear Morris to give me two or three
hours to-morrow and go through all the books, and satisfy himself
everything is in order, and his investments well looked after. I told him
also that the original £30,000 of his had, owing to judicious management,
become £40,000. You see, that is unfortunately a thing past praying for.
It is so indubitably clear from the earlier ledgers—"
    "But the port must indeed have warmed you," said Mills quickly. "Why, it
was madness! What if he had consented?"
    Mr. Taynton smiled.
    "Ah, well, I in my slow synthetic manner had made up my mind that it was
really quite impossible that he should consent to go into the books and
vouchers. To begin with, he has a new motor car, and every hour spent
away from that car just now is to his mind an hour wasted. Also, I know
him well. I knew that he would never consent to spend several hours over
ledgers. Finally, even if he had, though I knew from what I know of him
not that he would not but that he
could
not, I could have—I could have
managed something. You see, he knows nothing whatever about business or
investments."
    Mills shook his head.
    "But it was dangerous, anyhow," he said, "and I don't understand
what object could be served by it. It was running a risk with no
profit in view."
    Then for the first time the inherent strength of the quietness of the one
man as opposed to the obvious quickness and comprehension of the other
came into play.
    "I think that I disagree with you there, my dear fellow," said Mr.
Taynton slowly, "though when I have told you all, I shall be of course,
as always, delighted to recognise the superiority of your judgment,
should you disagree with me, and convince me of the correctness of your
view. It has happened, I know, a hundred times before that you with your
quick intuitive perceptions have been right."
    But his partner interrupted him. He quite agreed with the sentiment, but
he wanted to learn without even the delay caused by these complimentary
remarks, the upshot of Taynton's rash proposal to Morris.
    "What did young Assheton say?" he asked.
    "Well, my dear fellow," said Taynton, "though I have really no doubt that
in principle I did a rash thing, in actual practice my step